Columbia City Elks Lodge #1417 honors flag
(Talk of the Town photos by Jeff Mullendore) Officers of Columbia City Elks Lodge 1417, Churubusco American Legion Post 157, Columbia City VFW #5582, and Whitley County Korean War Veterans Color Guard, above and below, partipated in a Flag Day celebration on the Whitley County Courthouse Lawn last Saturday.
By Jeff Mullendore 
On Saturday, June 14, the officers and members of Columbia City Elks Lodge #1417, along with the American Legion Post 157 of Churubusco, Columbia City VFW #5582, and the Whitley County Korean War Veterans Color Guard honored our nation's flag with the Elks annual Flag Day Observance in downtown Columbia City.
Patriotism has always been a hallmark of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1907, the Elks became the first fraternal organization in the nation to mandate observance of June 14 as Flag Day. More than 40 years later, fellow Elk, President Harry S. Truman signed into order a declaration naming Flag Day as an official national holiday.
The Officers and members of the Columbia City Elks Lodge #1417 would like to thank Lee Dilly, Pat Dilly, Betty Stott, Donna Hilliard, Jim Claxton, Bruce Stahl, Shannon Fahlsing, Jay Hilliard and Alicia Armstrong of the Churubusco American Legion Post 157 and the Legion Riders, also, David Hawn of the Columbia City VFW #5582, John Slabaugh, Don York, Paul Gates and Frank Frey of the Whitley County Korean War Veterans Color Guard, the Columbia City Fire Department and Todd Shoda and John Stanley for their great sound system.